CAMPBELL, Calif., July 18, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Today, ChargePoint – the largest network of independently owned electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the world – launched its newest advancement in charging technology, the CT4000 Series. This revolutionary new product is the first charging station to meet the needs of the expanding EV market, specifically addressing two major obstacles – the cost of installation and the growing demand for charging spots.

Cumulative sales of electric vehicles reached 100,000 in May 2013, according to the Electric Drive Transportation Authority. Furthermore, in the first half of 2013 alone, sales of EVs increased by over 40 percent. With many major automakers manufacturing new electric vehicles, the number of EVs on the road will continue to increase at an exponential rate, and charging stations are not currently matching the growing demand.

“The electric vehicle market is accelerating at an incredible rate and electric vehicle infrastructure needs to not only pace that growth, but stay ahead of it,” said Pat Romano, President and CEO for ChargePoint. “The CT4000 Series changes the equation by offering more charging ports at every station while dramatically cutting installation costs. The CT4000 is truly a customer-centric EV charging station. Its creation is the result of understanding the needs of both drivers and station owners alike.”

The CT4000 is the first charging station to offer a power sharing feature, allowing a single circuit to power a dual port charging station, which will double the number of charging locations without increasing installation costs. Other advancements based on customer needs include Clean Cord Technology – a self-retracting, maintenance free, ultra lightweight cord management system, which is a standard feature on all CT4000 Series models to make charging an easier and more convenient experience.

In addition, the CT4000 Series offers a first-ever customizable video feature on a color LCD screen allowing station owners to run video content of their choice through ChargePoint’s cloud service. Station owners can further customize their CT4000 series charger by using the built-in signage feature (also standard with all models). The interactive instruction video for the CT4000 is consumer-friendly and available in English, Spanish and French.

EV drivers can expect more charging ports and stations in the near future. The new CT4000 Series stations are already in high demand with hundreds of installation orders coming in from current ChargePoint customers, including Google. Currently, ChargePoint has over 12,000 charge spots and a 70%+ market share of networked public charging stations, operating on their cloud service which supports a range of hardware from other manufacturers in addition to ChargePoint’s selection of best-in-class models.

About ChargePointRecognized as the worldwide leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, ChargePoint is the largest online network of independently-owned EV charging stations in the world – operating in more than a dozen countries with more than 12,000 charging locations. Every 15 seconds someone connects their vehicle to a ChargePoint station.

ChargePoint’s best-in-class hardware – as well as hardware from other manufacturers – is connected to ChargePoint’s cloud-based software. This innovative platform provides charging station owners with the control and data they need and want to optimize their charging operations, including billing, access control, and remote driver support. Station owners can monitor and track charging station usage and costs, create pricing structures for charging services, and reward driver loyalty.

ChargePoint provides a free mobile application with real-time data that allows drivers to locate and navigate to unoccupied charging stations. Drivers can also track their charging status and usage, as well as their greenhouse gas and fuel savings. Over 70 percent of all publicly-accessible networked EV charging stations are ChargePoint stations or run on the ChargePoint network, and nearly 40 percent of all EV drivers are ChargePoint members. By initiating 2.5 million charging sessions, ChargePoint consumers have saved three million gallons of gasoline and avoided 46 million pounds of CO2 emissions.